Eurovision legend Sam Ryder welcomes song contest fans into Manchester Airport Station
Eurovision sensation, Sam Ryder, has been immortalised on a mural at Manchester Airport Station, welcoming fans and passengers from around the world ahead of the much-anticipated singing competition.
TransPennine Express (TPE) commissioned street artist Akse, the man behind some of Manchester’s most memorable murals, to create the giant artwork featuring the Space Man artist as the excitement builds ahead of Eurovision in Liverpool.
Thousands of passengers, and fans of Eurovision travelling through Manchester Airport Station, will be met by the incredible mural depicting Sam, who re-ignited the UK’s passion for the song contest last year.
Akse, the artist behind Marcus Rashford’s famous mural, was asked by TPE to create the artwork to help celebrate the return of the world’s biggest singing competition in the UK for the first time in 25 years.
Matthew Golton, Managing Director at TPE, said: “With thousands of customers using Manchester Airport Station and our services to connect to the host city Liverpool, we wanted to give them a memorable welcome.
“Sam Ryder became a Eurovision legend last year after his performance and so it felt only right to have his face be the first you see when arriving on our platforms.”
The mural also features a welcome message in Ukrainian as TPE wanted to recognise what should be the host country.
Matthew added: “We’re proud that Liverpool and the UK is stepping up in support of Ukraine and we’re delighted to be able to play a role in the competition by helping people get to Liverpool Lime Street from key cities across the North and in Scotland.”
Street artist Akse said: “It was a joy to work on this piece with TPE. Seeing passengers arriving at the station and being met with the mural of Sam Ryder certainly put a smile on their faces. Sam is a Eurovision legend so it’s great to be able to immortalise him with this art.”
TPE, which provides direct services into Liverpool Lime Street from key cities across the North and in Scotland has recently wrapped a train in Eurovision livery and installed ‘Eurovision Song Zones’ at some of its stations across the network for local artists and musicians to show off their talents and entertain passengers waiting on the platform.
To find out more visit: Cheap Train Tickets to Liverpool | TransPennine Express (tpexpress.co.uk).